Chapter 28 The Promise
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
THE PROMISE
“Clement, where the hell have you been?”
He brushed past me and closed the door, setting the laden tea tray on the table.
“I’ve been scared to death worrying about you. Imagining you trapped in that box or splayed on a wall, but I’ve been locked in here unable do anything about it.”
He kept his back to me, casually removing the teapot, saucers, and biscuits one by one, infuriatingly slow. Eventually, he turned to me and cleared his throat, brushing imaginary crumbs from the front of his uniform. “I know. I’m the one who did it.”
“You what?” I stalked toward him.
He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, shepherding me toward my room. I stopped on the top step, refusing to go any further, and he pulled the door closed.
It was tight and dark, the warm glow from the fire below barely tickling our feet through the metal staircase. His hands wound around my hips, his lips hot on mine before I could even collect myself.
I pulled my face away, keeping my body aligned against his with blood pounding through my veins. “I’m mad at you.”
He grinned. It was such a wicked, wicked smile. “You seem very angry.” He throbbed against me, pressed hard into my stomach.
“Clement.” But it was a more of a whine, muffled by his mouth claiming mine again.
He kept his face close, barely allowing even air to pass between us. “I locked you in because I knew you’d try and escape.” He kissed me lightly. “And I barely found you in time before.”
“It doesn’t mean you get to lock me away like a toy.”
“Like a valuable treasure.”
I groaned, and he pressed into me again, smiling through the kiss. Really, I was just pathetic around him, and I was right about him being a distraction. I tried to pull my thoughts together. “But where have you been? I thought you were...”
“Busy.” He kissed me again. “I can’t tell you yet. Just...” His breath sighed out, warm and sorrowful against my lips. “Keep fighting, okay? You can end this.” He held me tighter, his heart thumping against mine.
“Tam?” Lilyanna’s voice carried through the walls.
I pushed Clement away, but he held firm.
“I’ll stay with you tonight. Down here.” He turned the doorknob, the light from the lounge spilling onto his face, highlighting the color in his cheeks.
“The wedding’s tomorrow, it’ll be our last chance.
” He pressed a chaste kiss to my forehead before slipping a knife from his belt into my hand. I tucked it into my empty holster.
My stomach fell, the heat evaporating from my body. He knew what I needed to do and that if I succeeded, the last five years of his life would’ve been in vain. More than that, he’d be condemning his sister.
He squeezed my hand. “I love you,” he whispered, before striding across the room. He collected the tea tray and nodded to Lilyanna who smiled at him before raising her eyebrows at me, then left.
I slouched across the room and grimaced at her. “Yes?”
Lilyanna drummed her fingers on top of the black velvet box she held. Her collarbone poked through the loose sweater she’d thrown on, creamy skin stretched tight on her face.
“What’s that?” I asked.
She jumped, flinging her gaze to me as if she’d forgotten I was standing there. “The rest of the wedding outfit.” She tapped the box again. “The crown, I think.”
I pulled a face. The image of the blood-soaked crown still embedded in the woman on the dungeon wall raced into my mind. “Alright then, let's see what we can do.”
I shepherded her into the bedroom. The wedding dress had been tossed onto the bed, waves of golden silk and ribbons spilling everywhere. I gagged, and she laughed. “I think it’s beautiful.”
“Of course you do.” I reached for the box in her hands. “Give me that as well.”
The hinges sprung open, revealing a golden crown sunk into a silk pillow.
At first glance, it looked wet. The metal was carved into coils of ivy, sharp petals extended toward the sky.
Diamond crystals rested atop the leaves, sparkling like dew drops.
Would they absorb her blood when he dug it into her skull, shining red like the beating heart of the ruby woman?
I snapped the box shut again and tossed it onto the pillow.
I clicked my fingers, and she dropped the robe she wore and turned around with a heavy sigh.
“I have no idea what I'm doing, Lilyanna.” The dress seemed to have no end. It was all ribbons and silk in an amorphous mass.
“When have you ever?” She raised her arms, and I dropped the dress over her head, tugging and twisting it into position.
I stood back, hands on hips. “Is this the right way round?”
She shrugged.
Untangling the ends of the ribbons, I poked them through small sparkling eyelets and cinched her into an irregular lattice. It was probably fine. It wasn’t like there’d be wedding portraits made when either she or the prince ended up dead the following day. Hopefully the prince.
I collected some pins from the dresser and gathered in the loose fabric sagging around her hips and chest. I should’ve noticed she wasn’t eating well.
Although perhaps a little guilt would do her some good, maybe even give her second thoughts about going through with this. My wrists throbbed in agreement.
“Ouch!” She flinched, batting my hand away.
“Sorry.” I inserted the pin again, narrowly avoiding her flesh a second time.
“Are you thinking of Clement again? Or just punishing me?”
I put the head of another pin in my mouth, folding the fabric into a pleat. “I wasn’t,” I mumbled, “but I am now.”
My stomach fluttered. We would only get one night together. He wanted to help me, but he’d never forgive me if his sister was hanged. Guilt like that irreversibly changes someone.
I inserted the pin into the fabric, creating a smooth contour around her waist and then circled to her other side.
As soon as the prince died, someone here would send a pigeon down South to the queens quicker than I could ride on horseback.
Siobhan was the only one who could travel faster than the news.
If I wanted any chance at saving his sister’s life, she’d have to do me a favor.
I shuddered, the pin narrowly avoiding Lilyanna’s hip.
Siobhan would be overjoyed to have me beg for her help, but I’d do it for Clement.
I’d do anything for him. A flush of warmth swelled within me.
Now he was officially a weakness, my weakness, and the thought didn’t haunt me like it should.
“Why are you smiling?” Lilyanna slapped my hand away as I reached for the neckline. “You’re going to stab me again.”
“That’s not why I’m smiling.” I pulled the dress down, exposing more of her smooth, pale chest. Her ribs were faintly visible, and I chastised myself again. “I really am a terrible maid.”
She laughed and took a step back so I could admire the full gown. I’d done an okay job. It was definitely the right way round and she had curves again. She twirled slowly, the buttery pleats of the full skirt swirling around her.
I nodded.
“You’ve never really been my maid, Tam.” She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me, her head pressed against mine. “You’re my sister, my friend.”
My throat tightened. The dormant magic finally bubbled up, spooling itself into my veins. So many people were relying on me. I needed to be strong, not just for them, but for me. It was my life too, and I was ready to take control.
“Okay, let’s go eat.” I broke from the embrace and headed to the lounge. “You’re already dressed for dinner, so that saves me at least an hour.”
She hurried after me, linking her arm with mine. She leaned close, her voice barely a whisper. “We can do this, Tam. I know we can.”
A stream of ash fell from the ceiling in the far corner, the sound of scratching nails receding.
* * *
What was wrong with me? My hands shook, my feet wouldn’t stop moving. If the spirits were watching me now, they’d think I’d lost it.
I took my boots off, then my leggings. Would he like this? Too forward? I put my boots back on.
Honestly, you’d think this was my first time. Maybe I should put the fire out and beg the spirits to drag me away so at least I’d have an excuse for looking frazzled when he finally found me.
I kicked my boots off again and strapped my holster back to my thigh just in case the spirits heard me muttering my plans out loud.
Soft footsteps echoed down the corridor outside. I leaped to the door, pressing my ear against the thick wood. My heart thumped in time with the footfalls, increasing in intensity as they neared. They paused outside my door and a key scraped in the lock excruciatingly slow.
I flung the door open.
Clement blinked in surprise, his mouth ajar with the key dangling from his hand. “Were you waiting for me?”
“No.” I grabbed his shirt and pulled him in. Kicking the door shut, I pushed him up against it. “I’ve never waited around for a man or woman in my life.” I tugged off his shirt, running my hands up his smooth chest.
“Mhm, I can see that.” He cradled my face, kissing me gently. Too gently.
“Come on, I’ve had all day to think about this.” My fingers hooked into his waistband.
“And I’ve had weeks.” He removed my hands, but held onto them, his thumbs circling my palms.
“Fine.” I pulled away. “What were you doing today? How long can you stay?” The skin under his eyes was stained darker and tension pooled in his jaw. My stomach fluttered. “How are you doing?”
The edges of his mouth quirked up.
“I’ll do whatever you need to—”
“Turn that mind off, Tamara.” He threaded his hands through my hair, gently tugging to raise my face to his.
“I promised I’d make you forget everything.
” He pulled harder, his breath hot in my face, warmth rising through my body.
He lowered his mouth, hovering over mine. “Everything except me,” he breathed.
My reply was lost as his tongue pushed past my lips. He caressed my mouth, meandering, teasing, a faint taste of sugar lingering on my tastebuds. Goddessdamn him, I wanted to jump him straight away, but he kept the grip on my hair, stopping me from rushing.
As he pulled away, I whined. He tightened his fingers, tangling them in my hair, stretching my neck upward.
His mouth roved down my face, my skin tingling at his touch.
He suckled on my neck, his other hand loosening his trousers until they plunged to the floor, knives and saber clashing onto the stone.
Grabbing my ass, he tugged me into him. I gasped. He was already throbbing, straining against the thin fabric of his underwear. I reached for him, but he twisted, a seductive chuckle escaping.
“Clement,” I growled.
He ignored me, tugging off my sweater and walking me backward until I fell onto the bed. He shed the rest of his clothes, before sliding down my chest, his mouth closing around one of my breasts. I arched into him, the sheer fabric of my bra clinging to my peaked nipple, warm and wet.
Sliding the knife from my holster, he ran the tip up my skin, pausing in between my breasts.
With a grin, he sliced through the middle, and the fabric fell away.
Cool air rushed my body. He took my other breast in his mouth and sucked, pressure firing through me.
Coils of heat swirled through my lower belly.
Not yet, not yet! I couldn’t even control myself.
He lifted, and I half-sighed, half-groaned. He ran the blade down my stomach, tucking the tip just under my waistband. “These are my favorite—” But he ignored me, ripping the fabric and leaving me fully exposed.
The knife clanged onto the floor as he spread me wide, his hands gripping my thighs. His hot breath gave me little warning before his tongue eased inside me. I clutched the covers, my head thrown back, already so far gone.
His hands slid up my thighs, one resting on my hip to keep me pinned while the other circled my clit. His tongue plunged in and out mercilessly. I tried to rock into him, but his hand tightened, controlling the pace, keeping me riding the edge.
I gritted my teeth, unable to stop myself from spiraling.
Then, I fell. My back arched, and my hips bucked as the world exploded around me.
He kept the pressure, drinking me in, riding every last shudder until I slumped, boneless on the mattress.
Languidly, he kissed his way back up my body, settling me into his arms.
“I’m going to need a minute,” I panted.
“Good.” Moisture beaded around his mouth, shining in the flicker from the fire. “Because I'm still enjoying myself over here.” He licked his lips before kissing me, the taste laced with salt and tang.
My libido stirred again. I rolled onto him, but he snaked an arm around my waist and flipped me, his thigh pressed between my legs. “I’m not done yet.” He pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, his other tracing the line of my lower lip.
He met my gaze, his mouth quirking. “I’m all yours, Tamara.” He spread my thighs wide with his knees, hovering tantalizingly close to my entrance. “And I promised to make you cum so hard you forget everything.”
I mumbled something incoherent, unable to look away from the intensity in his deep black eyes. He was magnificent. Goddess above did I need him. Now.
He chuckled, his beard scratching down my face as he nipped his way to my neck. “I don’t think you meant to say that out loud.” His hand tightened on my wrists, my pulse bounding under his grasp. “But who am I to say no to you?”
He thrust inside me with one, deep stroke. His teeth bit into my neck with a primal growl that blended with my gasp. I locked my legs around his back, and he pushed deeper, stretching until I was deliciously full.
“Clement,” I whispered, my voice needy and thick.
He anchored his arm around me while he plunged in again and again, his hips slapping against mine. His breathing became fast and ragged, moving faster, deeper. A dark thrill built inside me as pressure synched between us, increasing in intensity as our bodies fused.
I dug my heels into the slick muscles of his back, feeling them tense in a ripple along his spine which spread through into my core. His mouth found mine as we both released, our hearts thrashing together.
We lay on top of the covers, the gentle warmth from the fire licking over our bodies. The snow fell in an unbroken stream against the blocked window. The spirits were probably watching, which meant the prince was as well. But I didn’t care.
Tomorrow was the day, and there was no person I’d rather spend my last night with.
I nestled into his warm body, my arm draped across his chest and allowed myself to sleep.